Malta has a predominantly Mediterranean climate.

Malta, an independent republic, consists of islands Malta and Gozo and small islands, located in the Mediterranean
Sea south of Sicily, with a total area of 316 square kms. The capital and leading port of the country is Valletta.
Malta is a densely populated developed country in European Union. About 400,000 people live on this island nation.
The islands of Malta consist of low-lying coralline limestone plateaus surrounded by impermeable clay slopes.
The highest point is 239 meters above sea level. Malta is also known for its world heritage sites.


(L) Malta, Valletta, seen from Senglea, panorama of Valletta's south coast (M) Lower Barrakka Gardens
(R) Mgarr Harbour, Gozo

Map source: University of Texas Libraries　　A fishing man is making tidy a fishing-net at Spinola Bay area of San Giljan, Malta.
Under the British influence Saint Julian's changed from an insignificant locality to an important seaside village of pleasant residences.
　
(L) The Grandmaster's Palace, Valletta, Malta (R) The central area of Valletta

Gozo island is part of Malta: Visitors can currently reach the island by ferry.


Adults in Malta smoking less, young people more

Speaking on behalf of the Department of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Charmaine Gauci said that
there are certain factors, contributing to cardiovascular diseases, which are impossible to prevent or change,
citing age, gender and family history as prime examples.

Dr Gauci said, 'We constantly encourage the population to adopt healthier lifestyles. Although there are
currently 20.3 per cent of adults who are smokers, this contrasts with the smoker's ratio in the previous year
of 22.7 per cent. Worryingly though, while the adult smokers have decreased, young people, particularly girls,
are smoking more. Little do they know that they are increasing the risk of heart disease in the prime of their
lifetime.'

'A stress management, eating a minimum of five servings of fruit and vegetables a day and using less salt and
processed foods can also reduce death by cardiovascular disease. Malta has one of the highest rates of child
obesity in the world, and we continuously stress the need of at least, 30 minutes of physical activity a day for
adults, and 60 minutes for children'.
Source: Malta Independent Online, December 15, 2009

　
(L)The sign plate placed at the entrance to the airport, which declares Malta International Airport is no-smoking airport.
(R) Nobody was inside of a separate smoking room in the air terminal building, at this time.
　
(L) A neon light no-smoking sign (R) No-smoking sign plate is stuck out from a pillar.　　　

Smoking restriction of the world airports

　
(L) An automatic bending machine for tobacco sale in the Westin Dragonara Resort, Malta
(R) A warning sign board for a fine if smoking

The Westin Dragonara Resort, Malta has the total of 340 luxurious guest rooms, with the sparkling sea views from
a private balcony.
A gentle breeze from the Mediterranean sea makes a hotel guest more comfortable and relaxes with a Heavenly bed.
All accomodation facilities are smokefree.
The casino in the Westin Dragonara Resino is dived into two spaces of smoking and non-smoking.


Casino in the Westin Dragonara Resort, St.Julian's, Malta

Smoking Ban in Malta

From April 2005, smoking is prohibited in all enclosed public and private premises that which are open to
the public. This includes all premises where food and drink are served. All workspaces are also covered by
the regulations, and this includes any adjacent corridor, lobby, stairwell, elevator, lift, cafeteria, washroom
or other common area frequented by employees during the hours of their employment.

Total ban on smoking in public places from 2013

As from January 2013, it will be illegal to smoke anywhere inside public places and this includes all enclosed
areas such as clubs and restaurants, according to a legal notice. According to the new Smoking in Public
Places Regulations 2010, published in the Government Gazette, smoking in designated rooms will only be
allowed until 2013. After that, a complete ban will come into force in all enclosed public areas, including
temporary structures.
Source: Timesofmalta.com January 16, 2010,

H
Smoking Restriction at Hotels in the World: Actual Survey
The ratio of a smoking guest room to the total hotel rooms was calculated,
based on-the-spot investigation.

Smoking Ban in European Countries:

　Italy 　Malta　 　Ireland　　 　North Ireland　 　UK　 　Germany　 　Switzerland　
　France　 　Holland　 　Portugal　 　Spain　 　Norway 　Sweden 　Denmark 　
　Iceland　 　Finland

---

マルタ島　　青い地中海に囲まれ、淡いオレンジ色のマルタストーンで整然と形作られ、侵略と反撃との歴史を刻む世界
遺産の街、マルタ島。シチリア島の南に位置し、1964年には長い英国の統治から独立した。アラブの影響が大きく残る
なか、その歴史と共に歩んできた英国風の土地柄を求め訪れる人は絶えない。高級リゾートホテルも多い。海に面している
ので、気候は温暖、しかも湿度が比較的低いので、老後の余生をこの地に定める人も少なくない。

セントジュリアンの岬に建つホテル、ウェスティン ドラゴナーラ リゾート マルタには大きなカジノがある。セキュリテイは
厳しい。先ず訪問者のパスポートを確認しコピーを作成する。さらに顔写真を撮影する。内部は天井も高く広々としている。
一般フロアは全面禁煙で、左側の半分くらいのにスペースに喫煙プレイルームがある。その間は完全に仕切ってある。
禁煙スペースではタバコの煙に毒されることもなく長いc時間を過ごすことが出来る。ギャンブラーにも健康上の選択権が
与えられているのである。

マルタ島喫煙規制情報
観光客と国民の健康を守るため、マルタ政府は室内空間の禁煙と、喫煙空間の完全分離をアピ−ルし実行している。マルタ
国際空港内では空気の流れを完全に遮断した広い喫煙ルームを用意しているが、利用客はほとんどいない。空港のユニークな
禁煙マークは搭乗客の注意を引く。こうした取り組みを見ても、この国が受動喫煙防止対策に力を注いでいるのがよく分かる。

マルタ島ではレストラン・バーは完全に気流を遮断した喫煙室以外のすべて空間で全面禁煙となっている。喫煙室は喫煙する
ために喫煙者のみが立ち入れる空間で、この中で従業員が働くことを認めていない。米国の団体「Action on　Smoking and
Health」によると、「欧州タバコ対策ランキング 2006」で、アイルランド、イギリス、ノルウェー、アイスランドに次いで、
マルタ共和国は第5位の上位に格付けされている。2006年5月に公表されたEU Observer の世論調査によると、マルタ島では
市民の93％がレストランにおける喫煙禁止に、81％がバーにおける喫煙禁止に賛成している。

タバコの自動販売機をホテルの片隅に見つけたが、街中は勿論、他の場所では自動販売機を置いてあるところはなかった。
ほとんどのショップ内には、「No smoking please」の標識が掲げられていた。タバコの吸い殻は散乱していない。一度、
海沿いの散歩道で見つけたが、市中で吸い殻を見かけることはなかった。

　マルタ島
執筆　医学博士　宮本順伯
★当サイトへのリンクは自由
The photographs were taken in April, and the article was written in May 2006,
by Junhaku Miyamoto, M.D., PhD.
Copyright (C) 2006 Junhaku Miyamoto, PhD. All right is reserved.